National League Play-off Thread 2017/18

[Semi-skimmed Silk]

Astles does not throw himself to the ground. He is the one player this season that has given honest performances apart from the youngsters. If he went down he was fouled.

From the highlights does look like he was pushed, and that 2nd goal was offside at least once; more evidence that Tranmere are being reffed to the title.

 

[Pablosammy]

From the highlights does look like he was pushed, and that 2nd goal was offside at least once; more evidence that Tranmere are being reffed to the title.

There's another angle of the first from a Chester blogger on Youtube that shows Astles goes down very easily - if anything, he backs into Norwood. Even if he was fouled, the ball was sailing a long distance over his head anyway - Cook was a good few yards further across.

The second wasn't even close to offside - the second touch after the pass is a scuff from the Chester defender, not a flick on by Cook. Norwood is onside as soon as he comes into shot, which is long after the initial pass was hit.

Unless of course you were being sarcastic, and it's gone waaaaay over my head...

 

[Pablosammy]

You only beat us with a goal that followed a foul and a goal that was 4 yards offside. I think you've got nerves though. You're far from one of the better sides we've played this season.

See above! You're right, we did look crap and nervous though. One of the worst performances I've seen from us in a while.

 

[CestrianHawk]

The second wasn't even close to offside - the second touch after the pass is a scuff from the Chester defender, not a flick on by Cook. Norwood is onside as soon as he comes into shot, which is long after the initial pass was hit.

It was Cook coming from an offside position and interfering with the play, that was the offside call. Norwood clearly wasn't offside himself.

 

[RLC]

It was Cook coming from an offside position and interfering with the play, that was the offside call. Norwood clearly wasn't offside himself.

Cook was not interfering with play. He was coming back into an onside position and raised his arms in the air to make it clear he was not making an attempt for the ball.

 

[CestrianHawk]

Cook was not interfering with play. He was coming back into an onside position and raised his arms in the air to make it clear he was not making an attempt for the ball.

Nope. Just watched highlights again ... no raised arms, which is immaterial as he was heading straight on the line of the ball and interfering with the play.

 

[RLC]

Nope. Just watched highlights again ... no raised arms, which is immaterial as he was heading straight on the line of the ball and interfering with the play.

He is moving in the opposite direction to the ball and makes no attempt to play it. I was directly in line with the incident on the half way line. His hands were raised but you can't see it on the crap video footage.

Either way, I am not sure you can claim you deserved anything other than a defeat from the game.

 

[CestrianHawk]

I was directly in line with the incident on the half way line.

In other words you had exactly the same viewing angle as the camera, as it was directly behind you. Out of interest, were you viewing the official film footage? ... as there is no sign of any raised arms on that footage. He was moving directly towards the ball and was close to it, which is what makes it interference.
We didn't deserve to win as we never looked likely to score, but there again apart from the two dubious goals neither did you create much. As you would say though, a win is a win, especially in your situation. For us, we'd accepted relegation a long time ago, and sadly results have become meaningless.

 

[RLC]

There were two cameras about six feet to the left of me. I still think both of our goals were perfectly good, but we also hit the woodwork twice and had other chances. I don't personally think refereeing decisions made any difference to the outcome of the game.

Regarding the bigger picture, I hope you get yourselves sorted out off the pitch over the summer, as football is nothing without rivalries.

 

[simsini]

Why don’t Rees and Dennis start for Bromley now? Although he missed a good chance to earn you a point at Prenton Park, Josh Rees was the player that stood out in a positive way for you in that game.

Dennis was playing through the semi final against Gateshead with an injury and is not being risked for 90 minutes at the moment. Not sure about Rees, although he has looked good off the bench recently. He'll start tonight I'd imagine.

 

[Silkman72]

There's another angle of the first from a Chester blogger on Youtube that shows Astles goes down very easily - if anything, he backs into Norwood. Even if he was fouled, the ball was sailing a long distance over his head anyway - Cook was a good few yards further across.

The second wasn't even close to offside - the second touch after the pass is a scuff from the Chester defender, not a flick on by Cook. Norwood is onside as soon as he comes into shot, which is long after the initial pass was hit.

Unless of course you were being sarcastic, and it's gone waaaaay over my head...

Didn’t go down half as easily as Dave (Oscar nominated) Winfield

 

[Semi-skimmed Silk]

Unless of course you were being sarcastic, and it's gone waaaaay over my head...

Less being sarcastic, more a case of I saw it once and decided it fit the conspiratorial narrative! If Halls was the one scuffing it backwards I could definitely believe it, but really Tranmere should be docked points for unfairly exploiting his frailties.

 

[Tranmerewhite]

I had a very similar angle to the “offside” as the camera, however fortunately I have better eyesight than the 480p Chesters camera records in, Cook was about 3 yards away from Astles. Astles stumbled and the ball flicked off his foot to Norwood.

As for any conspiracies about reffing us to the title, we have the biggest penalty deficit in the league; amount given for / against.

Looking forward to tonight’s game. Probably a slight knock on our gate with the champions league plus no away fans. Still be around 5k though.

 

[CestrianHawk]

fortunately I have better eyesight than the 480p Chesters camera records in,
.

Obviously not if you think Cook was 3 yds away from Astles.

 

[CestrianHawk]

Regarding the bigger picture, I hope you get yourselves sorted out off the pitch over the summer, as football is nothing without rivalries.

Thankyou, it's appreciated. I've enjoyed the renewal of some of the old Cheshire derby games. They obviously never had quite the same intensity as the W****** derby, but it's always good to renew these old rivalries.

 

[JaredSUFC]

Ross Lafayette recalled from his loan at Maidstone to help secure a playoff spot by being kicked a lot, moaning about it and then scoring late worldies

 

[Leewilson]

Update 2

2nd) Tranmere - 73
Chester (A) WON
Gateshead (H) WON
Aldershot (H)
Halifax (A)
Hartlepool (H)
Solihull (H) (TBA)
Dover (A) (TBA)
Initial verdict: Will be absolutely fine. Games in hand a fairly favourable run in. Expect them to finish strongly in either 2nd or 3rd.
Update1: Looking very comfortable for 2nd or 3rd.
Update 2: Flying.

3rd) Sutton - 72
Hartlepool (H)
Maidenhead (A)
Ebbsfleet (A)
Aldershot (H)
Update 2: Well I have to include them now that they're making a pigs ear of it. Should be fine but it's tight enough to be uncertain.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4th) Fylde - 71
Sutton (H) WON
Torquay (A) WON
Maidstone (A)
Solihull (H)
Wrexham (A)
Initial verdict: Have taken advantage of other's failings to be right in contention. Could go down to the final game vs Wrexham for a play off spot. Gut feeling is they'll just miss out.
Update 1: Cracking win gives them a great chance. Final game vs Wrexham is looking like the decider.
Update 2: Hit form at the right time. Might not even need the final game vs Wrexham now.

5th) Aldershot - 71
Maidenhead (H) WON
Tranmere (A)
Gateshead (H)
Barrow (H)
Sutton (A)
Initial verdict: Bang out of form and with 2 very tough looking away games. Important they get a win or two at home but could get dragged into a battle for 7th if they're not careful.
Update1: Essential late win. 2 more wins to make sure.
Update 2: Night off. Other results weren't too bad. Still in their hands.

6th) Boreham Wood - 69
Halifax (A) LOST
Macclesfield (H) LOST
Chester (H)
Bromley (A)
Guiseley (H)
Initial verdict: No problem for these lot. Probably a 4th/5th finish on the cards.
Update1: Damaging loss. If they lose to Macc, it’ll be a nervy end.
Update 2: Lost form at the wrong time. In real danger of missing out. Need 2 wins to get in. I think they'll squeak it.

7th) Wrexham - 69
Eastleigh (A) DRAW
Ebbsfleet (A) LOSE
Daggers (H)
Orient (A)
Fylde (H)
Initial verdict: Tricky run in. May need to scrap and scrape a few draws and the odd win to be sure of their spot. 6th/7th most likely.
Update1: Will too many draws cost them?
Update 2: Really struggling now. Luckily for them, they play Daggers next. They will likely need a win on the final day. I think they'll finish 8th now.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8th) Dover - 67
Torquay (H) WON
Maidenhead (A)
Gateshead (H)
Woking (A)
Tranmere (H)
Initial verdict: Had a real chance to surge into the play offs but may have missed their chance after losing a few games. Games against relegation candidates will decide their fate. May just sneak it.
Update1: Vital win. In their hands looking at their fixtures.
Update 2: Night off. Will be happy with other results largely. Right in their hands now.

9th) Ebbsfleet - 64
Macclesfield (H) DRAW
Wrexham (H) WON
Barrow (A)
Eastleigh (A)
Sutton (H)
Gateshead (A)
Torquay (A)
Initial verdict: They have the games in hand but have been inconsistent all season. Some very tough games in that run in at home to the pace setters and away to teams fighting for their life. Will just miss out.
Update1: Little margain for error now. Need to win 5/6 ideally. Looking too big an ask.
Update 2: Shut up Lee. Beating Wrexham has put them right back in it now. Still a big ask with 4 away games but with others out of form, they have a chance (until update 3 where I look a back and forth ****).

10th) Bromley - 60
Gateshead (H) DRAW
Chester (A) LOSE
Woking (A)
Daggers (H)
Boreham Wood (H)
Barrow (H)
Maidenhead (A)
Initial verdict: A hard one to call. They have the games in hand and not the worst run in. If they can navigate the Chester/Woking games, 3 home games in a row could be the momentum they need to surge for 7th. I think they could sneak it.
Update1: Damaging draw. Need 5/6 now. Possible due to fixtures but looking more unlikely now.
Update 2: Think they're gone now. Need 5 wins which is possible but recent form is too up and down to be realistic.

11th) Daggers - 59
Woking (H) DRAW
Wrexham (A)
Bromley (A)
Guiseley (A)
Maidenhead (H)
Macclesfield (A)
Initial verdict: The most unlikely but a run would give them every chance of 7th. Have to be on 64 points following the Woking/Guiseley games, then the next two against Play Off rivals will decide their fate. Will need to win at least 5/6.
Update1: Blew a golden chance to move into contention. Looking too big an ask now.
Update 2: Same problem as Bromley except they have a much harder run in. Too up and down and the squad is too small to go on a run.

 

[The_Boss]

Update 2: Shut up Lee. Beating Wrexham has put them right back in it now. Still a big ask with 4 away games but with others out of form, they have a chance (until update 3 where I look a back and forth ****).

.

 

[Master D]

We're racing out of them.

 

[JaredSUFC]

We're like that marathon runner who's towards the front for most of the race and then falls away finishing nowhere near the front

 

[Ronaldo to Wrexham]

We're racing out of them.

We have gone down to walking pace.

 

[Joe.]

Made me chuckle too.

Not sure we've got the legs to make it if I'm honest. Four away games out of the remaining five games is tough. If we beat Barrow then I'll start to believe a little bit more, but if we follow it up with a win away at Eastleigh next Tuesday then I'll really believe I think. 4 out of 5 wins should be enough but, as I said, I'm not sure we've got the legs.

Got to give the lads credit though, nine unbeaten (six wins) since back-to-back 3-0 losses against Boreham Wood and Tranmere end of Jan, beginning of Feb. Given us an outside chance.

It's been an enjoyable first season back, crowds are on the up and atmospheres have been the best for a long time. There is a real buzz around the club.

 

[Shotsfan1993]

2 wins will be enough for us, unless 2 of Boreham Wood, Dover, Wrexham and Ebbsfleet win all their remaining games

 

[The_Boss]

3 losses and Tranmere winning all 5 and we'll be in. If you lot will finally let us in this thread anyway.

 

[Fyldefan]

We could do with Tranmere beating Aldershot. Sets it up nicely for us then.

 

[GTFCfish]

We're like that marathon runner who's towards the front for most of the race and then falls away finishing nowhere near the front

Sutton's season:

 

[Tranmerewhite]

3 losses and Tranmere winning all 5 and we'll be in. If you lot will finally let us in this thread anyway.

We only need you to lose twice due to our goal difference being about 100 better*


*rounded to the nearest 100

 

[The_Boss]

We only need you to lose twice due to our goal difference being about 100 better*


*rounded to the nearest 100

Yeah but we're gonna win our other game 200-0, so soz.

 

[Leewilson]

Update 3

2nd) Tranmere - 76
Chester (A) WON
Gateshead (H) WON
Aldershot (H) WON
Halifax (A)
Hartlepool (H)
Solihull (H) (TBA)
Dover (A) (TBA)
Initial verdict: Will be absolutely fine. Games in hand a fairly favourable run in. Expect them to finish strongly in either 2nd or 3rd.
Update1: Looking very comfortable for 2nd or 3rd.
Update 2: Flying.
Update 3: All but mathematical now

3rd) Sutton - 73
Hartlepool (H) DREW
Maidenhead (A)
Ebbsfleet (A)
Aldershot (H)
Update 2: Well I have to include them now that they're making a pigs ear of it. Should be fine but it's tight enough to be uncertain.
Update 3: Need 1 win or a few draws to be sure. Limping into the play offs.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4th) Boreham Wood - 72
Halifax (A) LOST
Macclesfield (H) LOST
Chester (H) WIN
Bromley (A)
Guiseley (H)
Initial verdict: No problem for these lot. Probably a 4th/5th finish on the cards.
Update1: Damaging loss. If they lose to Macc, it’ll be a nervy end.
Update 2: Lost form at the wrong time. In real danger of missing out. Need 2 wins to get in. I think they'll squeak it.
Update 3: Massively important win. A win against Guiseley on the final day should seal it if they stumble next week.

5th) Fylde - 71
Sutton (H) WON
Torquay (A) WON
Maidstone (A) LOSE
Solihull (H)
Wrexham (A)
Initial verdict: Have taken advantage of other's failings to be right in contention. Could go down to the final game vs Wrexham for a play off spot. Gut feeling is they'll just miss out.
Update 1: Cracking win gives them a great chance. Final game vs Wrexham is looking like the decider.
Update 2: Hit form at the right time. Might not even need the final game vs Wrexham now.
Update 3: Surprising defeat. Two tough games to end. A win against Solihull basically gets them in. A loss and it's all on the final day with Wrexham.

6th) Aldershot - 71
Maidenhead (H) WON
Tranmere (A) LOSE
Gateshead (H)
Barrow (H)
Sutton (A)
Initial verdict: Bang out of form and with 2 very tough looking away games. Important they get a win or two at home but could get dragged into a battle for 7th if they're not careful.
Update1: Essential late win. 2 more wins to make sure.
Update 2: Night off. Other results weren't too bad. Still in their hands.
Update 3: Other results have helped them massively. Two winnable games to come before the final day and should make the play offs

7th) Wrexham - 69
Eastleigh (A) DRAW
Ebbsfleet (A) LOSE
Daggers (H) LOSE
Orient (A)
Fylde (H)
Initial verdict: Tricky run in. May need to scrap and scrape a few draws and the odd win to be sure of their spot. 6th/7th most likely.
Update1: Will too many draws cost them?
Update 2: Really struggling now. Luckily for them, they play Daggers next. They will likely need a win on the final day. I think they'll finish 8th now.
Update 3: Still in on the basis of Dover slipping up. Looking tough now though. Anything less than 4 points and I think they're missing out.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8th) Dover - 67
Torquay (H) WON
Maidenhead (A) LOSE
Gateshead (H)
Woking (A)
Tranmere (H)
Initial verdict: Had a real chance to surge into the play offs but may have missed their chance after losing a few games. Games against relegation candidates will decide their fate. May just sneak it.
Update1: Vital win. In their hands looking at their fixtures.
Update 2: Night off. Will be happy with other results largely. Right in their hands now.
Update 3: They keep blowing their chance to get in the top 7. Need to win the next 2 or else I think they'll miss out to Ebbsfleet.

9th) Ebbsfleet - 67
Macclesfield (H) DRAW
Wrexham (H) WON
Barrow (A) WON
Eastleigh (A)
Sutton (H)
Gateshead (A)
Torquay (A)
Initial verdict: They have the games in hand but have been inconsistent all season. Some very tough games in that run in at home to the pace setters and away to teams fighting for their life. Will just miss out.
Update1: Little margain for error now. Need to win 5/6 ideally. Looking too big an ask.
Update 2: Shut up Lee. Beating Wrexham has put them right back in it now. Still a big ask with 4 away games but with others out of form, they have a chance (until update 3 where I look a back and forth ****).
Update 3: Still looks hard with 3 away games to come but they're in form whereas others aren't, plus they have 4 games compared to others who just have 2. 2 more wins could do it.

10th) Bromley - 63
Gateshead (H) DRAW
Chester (A) LOSE
Woking (A) WON
Daggers (H)
Boreham Wood (H)
Barrow (H)
Maidenhead (A)
Initial verdict: A hard one to call. They have the games in hand and not the worst run in. If they can navigate the Chester/Woking games, 3 home games in a row could be the momentum they need to surge for 7th. I think they could sneak it.
Update1: Damaging draw. Need 5/6 now. Possible due to fixtures but looking more unlikely now.
Update 2: Think they're gone now. Need 5 wins which is possible but recent form is too up and down to be realistic.
Update 3: Win today keeps their small hopes alive. Winner of Bromley vs Daggers on Tuesday gives themselves a chance. Draw kills both.

11th) Daggers - 62
Woking (H) DRAW
Wrexham (A) WON
Bromley (A)
Guiseley (A)
Maidenhead (H)
Macclesfield (A)
Initial verdict: The most unlikely but a run would give them every chance of 7th. Have to be on 64 points following the Woking/Guiseley games, then the next two against Play Off rivals will decide their fate. Will need to win at least 5/6.
Update1: Blew a golden chance to move into contention. Looking too big an ask now.
Update 2: Same problem as Bromley except they have a much harder run in. Too up and down and the squad is too small to go on a run.
Update 3: Win today keeps their small hopes alive. Winner of Bromley vs Daggers on Tuesday gives themselves a chance. Draw kills both.

 

[Shotsfan1993]

Was expecting us to lose today so not the end of the world. 2 home wins guarantees us a playoff place and to be honest, if we can't beat Gateshead and Barrow at home we don't deserve one!